A retrospective analysis was undertaken of a non-controlled patient cohort offered open-label liraglutide pharmacotherapy as an adjuvant in the event of inadequate weight loss (partial response) following bariatric surgery. In addition to weight loss, the tolerability and safety of liraglutide were evaluated in this population. Participants were aged 18–70 years and were recruited from patients who attended a routine post-bariatric surgery follow-up at a specialist clinic in Sydney, Australia. Ethics approval was granted by Ramsay Health Care NSW HREC (reference number: 2020-012).
Patients were offered at least 3 months of pharmacotherapy to achieve further weight loss. Included were patients at least one year post-laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) or Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYG) or at least 2 years post-laparoscopic gastric band (LGB) and had inadequate weight loss defined as BMI >35 (all patients), > 25% TWL (LSG, RYGBP), >20% TWL (LAGB), and in patients who self-identified as weight stable after surgery without meeting health or weight goals. As patients were required to self-fund therapy, they were a group who were motivated to lose more weight but had not achieved it with their chosen therapy. Patients with a surgical reason for weight regain, reported pregnancy, ischaemic heart disease, cardiac conduction disorders or contraindication to liraglutide were excluded.
Eligible patients were prescribed liraglutide using the dose-escalation protocol (1.8–3.0 mg subcut daily) outlined by the manufacturer [10 ]. Patients who did not lose at least 5% of their starting weight after 3 months of treatment were deemed non-responders to pharmacotherapy, and therapy was ceased.
Patients were offered at least 3 months of pharmacotherapy to achieve further weight loss. Included were patients at least one year post-laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) or Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYG) or at least 2 years post-laparoscopic gastric band (LGB) and had inadequate weight loss defined as BMI >35 (all patients), > 25% TWL (LSG, RYGBP), >20% TWL (LAGB), and in patients who self-identified as weight stable after surgery without meeting health or weight goals. As patients were required to self-fund therapy, they were a group who were motivated to lose more weight but had not achieved it with their chosen therapy. Patients with a surgical reason for weight regain, reported pregnancy, ischaemic heart disease, cardiac conduction disorders or contraindication to liraglutide were excluded.
Eligible patients were prescribed liraglutide using the dose-escalation protocol (1.8–3.0 mg subcut daily) outlined by the manufacturer [10 ]. Patients who did not lose at least 5% of their starting weight after 3 months of treatment were deemed non-responders to pharmacotherapy, and therapy was ceased.
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